bookofjoe

Fleur de Saison — Émilie Simon

Entertaining even if you're in an environment which does not take kindly to audio (or, as they say in show business, "M.O.S." [mit out sound]).

Spooky Bottle Stickers

From websites:

Spooky Bottle Stickers

Transform an ordinary beverage into a creepy concoction with this assortment of Halloween-themed bottle label stickers — just peel the backing from the sticker and apply.

Includes 8 different labels: Truth Serum, Sulfur Elixir, Red Blood, Spider Venom, Embalming Juice, Rat Poison, Zombie Virus and Liquid Phantom.

$3.99.

Speech accent archive — Professor 'enry 'iggins, your office is calling

"The speech accent archive uniformly presents a large set of speech samples [991 currently] from a variety of language backgrounds. Native and non-native speakers of English read the same paragraph and are carefully transcribed. The archive is used by people who wish to compare and analyze the accents of different English speakers."

Free, the way we like it.

I guarantee that all 16 [the number identifiable from public sources — there are many more which you and I will never, under any imaginable circumstances, learn any details of] U.S. intelligence agencies have had an industrial-strength version of this for many years — but hoi polloi take what we can get.

[via Milena]

Stick-anywhere 'tripod'

From the website:

Universal Pod

Get a steady shot with this small, stick-anywhere 'tripod'

Want to set yourself in the picture?

Or take pictures in low light?

Pull the Universal Pod from your pocket or camera bag, then stick it to a tree, pole, fence, rock, wall — almost anything.

Its patented viscoelastic polymer base sticks firmly to give your camera a solid perch, then removes easily and leaves no residue.

Measures just 2"H x 4"W (much smaller than a tripod) and weighs 6.9 oz.

Holds up to 15 oz.

....................

$29.99 (camera not included).

Antique Poison Bottle Hall of Fame

It

is

what it

says.

[via Neatorama and Everlasting Blört]

2 Carat Cup — 'Drink more bling'

From the website:
...................

2 Carat Cup

Here's a great way to start the day — a graceful porcelain cup that adorns you with a sparkling solitaire diamond ring when you pick it up!

But wait, that's not all, here's the best part —

the 2-Carat Cup is packed in an elegant oversize jewelry box so when you present it as a gift, all you see is the ring!

A great cup, a terrific gift, a charming social expression — this one's got it all.

White porcelain with gold or platinum glaze and clear sparkling Swarovski crystal, individually boxed with removable wrapper.
....................

Please note that I am not responsible for what happens after you give this to someone who's been expecting "the ring."

I'm just saying, is all.

$18.

[via Alistair Why]

BehindTheMedspeak: Is Tom Brady's knee injury potentially career-ending?'

I was saddened to learn that the great New England Patriot quarterback had to go back to the OR last Wednesday (October 15) — nine days following surgical repair of his severely damaged left knee — for a second procedure.

Here's this past Monday's (October 20) Associated Press story with the details.

Brady confirms 2nd knee operation to fix infection

Injured New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady confirmed for the first time this weekend that he had not one, but two operations on his injured left knee.

In a posting dated Saturday [October 18], Brady thanked fans for supporting him "during the challenging times" and confirmed that he had surgery on Oct. 6 and again on Wednesday.

"The (first) surgery [at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles] went well and my doctor described my knee as 'rock solid,'" Brady wrote on tombrady.com. "Unfortunately, in the week following the surgery, I developed an infection. ... We were proactive with the infection and the doctors went in for a second procedure this past Wednesday to clean and to test the wound. The results of the tests have all been positive and we are very thankful."

The Patriots, citing team policy, have not commented on the injury that knocked Brady out of the opener against the Kansas City Chiefs and ended his season. Although Brady has been widely reported to have sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament, he did not give specifics on the injury.

The reigning NFL MVP said he is excited to begin rehabilitating his knee for the 2009 season and told young fans to be prepared for the unexpected.

.....................

Here is an excerpt from Brady's website: "On October 6, I had surgery to repair my knee from the injury that took place four weeks earlier [September 7] in our season opener. The surgery went well and my doctor [Dr. Neal S. ElAttrache] described my knee as 'rock solid.' Unfortunately, in the week following the surgery, I developed an infection. The infection is very treatable and, through a course of antibiotics, it will be knocked out of my system. We were proactive with the infection and the doctors went in for a second procedure this past Wednesday to clean and to test the wound. The results of the tests have all been positive and we are very thankful."
....................

Brady's injury is believed to be torn anterior cruciate (ACL) and medial collateral (MCL) ligaments, an injury which requires extensive rehabilitation following surgical repair, usually taking a year or more to return to normal functioning — if all goes well.

The surgical repair is most often accomplished using a tendon taken from the patient's own body or cadaveric tissue from a tissue bank.

Post-operative knee infection, while rare, does happen even in the very best of hands, witness Brady's case.

You can bet the choice of surgeon was not made lightly.

Should infection occur, all bets are off.

It could be a one-time occurrence in which, as Brady stated above, surgeons were able to completely clear the joint space — or there may have been subclinical traces left behind which won't surface for a while, but might well go on to take up permanent residence in his knee.

A chronically infected replacement ligament — in effect, a foreign body in the joint space — is a potential career-ender, as infection weakens the surgical repair and surrounding tissues, making re-injury more likely.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed they got it all.

The alternative (see the case of Joe Jurevicius, among others) is frightening.

BETTY — by Lincoln Kayiwa

The designer was born in Uganda and attended UIAH in Helsinki where he now resides and runs KAYIWA, his own brand product design company.

He writes, "BETTY is a vase. BETTY is a candelabrum. BETTY is even a fish bowl or an umbrella holder. BETTY looks wonderful when empty too."

"The obverse and reverse sides of BETTY let you use it the way you like."

Black or white porcelain and glass.

Apply within.